RallyNorth.net

Hamilton-Wenham Generals Football '16

Hamilton-Wenham rolls past Whittier

HAVERHILL — Hamilton-Wenham quarterback Billy Whelan showed Saturday the he is the General of the Generals.
Whittier was able to slow down Hamilton-Wenham’s running attack, holding the Generals to 97 yards on 23 carries, but Whelan used his arm to do most of the damage. He went a spectacular 10 of 11 passing for 177 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Generals to a 27-6 win.
“Billy is a special kid,” said Hamilton-Wenham coach Jim Pugh. “He understands the offense and everything that we’re trying to do. If I make a mistake calling the plays he’s the one that knows what personnel we want out there.”
The Whittier offense controlled the time of possession on offense, but were unable to make a couple big plays. The Wildcats also bid farewell to their seniors in a ceremony before the game.
“It was two good, even teams battling,” said Whittier coach Kevin Bradley. “We left it on the field. We had our chances, but we didn’t stop them on some of their big plays.”
Hamilton-Wenham (4-4) scored at the end of the first quarter when Whelan hit Cam Peach for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Whittier (2-6) responded with a 17-play, 65-yard drive that elapsed over nine minutes and ended with a Kevin Bradley Jr. 1-yard run.
The Generals answered on a 13-yard TD pass from Whelan to Jake Lanciani to take a 15-6 lead into the half, and then took the second half kickoff 50-yards on 10 plays on a drive that lasted seven minutes and ended with Andrew Riccio running it in from a yard out.
The play, or plays, of the game happened on Whittier’s ensuing drive, when the Wildcats marched down to the Hamilton-Wenham 1-yard-line. With a first and goal from the 1, Whittier tried three straight runs that were all stuffed at the line. On fourth down, the General’s defensive line sprinted into the backfield and threw down the Whittier back for a loss.
“That was definitely a swing,” said Bradley. “If that was us stopping them it would be a momentum swing there definitely. Or if we scored then it’s a one-score game. It’s probably the first time we’ve been stopped all the way down there all season.”
Coach Pugh put a little more emphasis on that particular series.
“I just told the guys that the best thing about this game was the goal-line stand,” said Pugh. “That was a statement. We’re a young team and all we’re doing is playing for pride.”
Whelan then hit Lanciani for a 37-yard touchdown pass with three minutes left in the fourth to seal the game.
For Whittier, Bradley Jr. finished with 100 yards on 10 of 22 passing and also rushed for a team high 40 yards on 10 carries. Corey Greaney added 37 yards on 10 carries, and Sam Rebinskas hauled in seven passes for 81 yards.
Each team has a game next week, but their opponents will not be announced until Sunday morning.
Read More »
Football, 10/29/16 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars